Meyer Paces Wildcats on Opening Day of Wolf Run

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Following its first round of the season, the Kentucky men’s golf team is tied for second at four-over par through the first 18 holes of play at the Wolf Run Intercollegiate in Zionsville, Indiana, thanks in large part to a two-under round from sophomore Fred Allen Meyer.

“Welcome back Fred Allen,” UK coach Brian Craig said. “He played great today making seven birdies on a course as demanding as Wolf Run. Overall, we played solid golf but left a few shots out there. With the event being shortened to 36 holes due to rain, we will need a brilliant round tomorrow to have a chance. We will do our best and see how the chips fall.”

The tournament format originally called for a 36-hole day on Saturday, but torrential rain in the area forced a delayed start. Tournament officials determined the teams would play just 36 holes for the tournament with 18 being played both on Saturday and during Sunday’s final round. 

About the Lineup:

Meyer returned to the starting lineup to begin his sophomore campaign at Wolf Run. A season ago, he returned to the course for the spring’s opening event and fired a career-low round of 69 to cap off the Puerto Rico Classic to lead all Wildcats on the final day of play. A former high school state champion, Meyer made his presence felt on the course with the seven birdies for the team-low round of 69. 

A shotgun start put Meyer on the par-four fourth to begin his day. He started off his spectacular performance with four consecutive pars before birdying No. 8. A three-birdie stretch began on No. 10 and he capped the back nine at 2-under par. After he rounded the turn for his final three holes, Meyer birdied the par-four first for the seventh birdie of the day. Meyer is tied for second and just one shot off of the lead heading into the final round. 

Sophomore Lukas Euler is currently just outside of the top 10 and in a tie for 13th after enjoying a one-over-par 72 in his first round of the season. The sophomore from Germany posted a bogey-free front nine with one birdie, before shooting two-over on the back nine. 

Cooper Musselman sits inside the top 20 in a tie for 19th after a two-over 73. The junior accumulated 12 pars and two birdies on the day, shooting one-over par on both the front and back nine. 

Senior Stephen Stallings was the fourth Wildcat to claim a spot in the top 25 at Wolf Run Golf Club on the opening day of play after firing an even-par 35 on the front nine and a three-over-par 39 on the back side for a first-round score of 74. 

Competing as an individual and in his first event for Kentucky, sophomore Fadhli Soetarso fired a three-over-par 74 to match Stallings in a tie for 25th. Soetarso also finished even on the front nine. 

Juniors Tyler “Chip” McDaniel and Evan Cox shot 75 and 76 to close out the scores for the Wildcats.

The Tournament Field:

Purdue leads all teams with a strong seven-under par 277, while No. 3 Illinois is tied with Kentucky in second place at four-over par. 

Central Florida, North Texas, and Indiana round out the top five after posting scores of seven-over-par, 291.

About the Course:

Wolf Run Golf Club, voted the 15th Best Modern Course by Golfweek in 2007, plays host to the Wolf Run Intercollegiate Sept. 10-11 for the Wildcats’ first test of the year. This Steven R. Smyers course plays 7,155 yards with a par of 71 and a slope rating of 143 on bent grass. Having finished in the top-five five times with one win in 2006, this marks the eighth time that Kentucky will play in this event and the first time since 2014 when it finished ninth. 

Teams will play 18 holes on Sunday using tee times off No. 1 and 10. 

Wolf Run Golf Club

Zionsville, Ind.

Sept. 10-11

Par: 71

Yardage: 7,155

T-2 – Kentucky (288, +4)

T-2 – Fred Allen Meyer (69, -2)

T-13 – Lukas Euler (72, +1)

T-19 – Cooper Musselman (73, +2)

T-25 – Stephen Stallings Jr. (74, +3)

*T-25 – Fadhli Soetarso (74, +3)

T-34 – Chip McDaniel (75, +4)

*T-40 – Evan Cox (76, +5)

For the latest on the Kentucky men’s golf team, follow @UKMensGolf on Twitter and on the web at UKathletics.com.